Sunday, July 3, 2011

In our studies of high performance organizations, (organizations that sustain high levels of productivity, profitability and employee satisfaction over time), my colleagues and I found that although these organizations have their own unique and distinct culture, these four views are widely held in each.

Systems Thinking

Leaders in high performing organizations keep a big picture perspective. They see their organization as a complex system, where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. They look for patterns of interrelationships in a series of events rather than seeing them as isolated snapshots.

Leaders consider both the long-term and short-term impact of their decisions. When solving problems, leaders are willing to take the time to get to the root of a problem rather than settling for a quick fix that addresses only the surface. Digging down to reveal the structure that underlies complex situations, they look for leverage points where real change can occur.

A Sense of Urgency

There is a widely held view that work is important and urgent, and there is support for taking initiative, making bold moves, experimentation, learning, and action. Mistakes are viewed as a natural and necessary part of the creative process. This bias for action is not random as it is counterbalanced by systems thinking.

Because people have the needed information and skills to act in the best interest of the customer and the organization, they are able to respond quickly. And because boundaries around decision-making are clear and allow autonomy, there is no need to wait for requests to go up the chain of command for approval before action can occur.

Employees Are An Appreciating Asset

Employees are considered a competitive advantage, growing more valuable with time as their capabilities and knowledge increase. These companies take good care of their people, investing in continuing education to develop employee potential and properly rewarding employees for acquiring and sharing their knowledge and skills.

High performance organizations develop systems and processes for attracting and retaining good people because they view an investment in people as essential for long-term results.

Social Responsibility

High performance organizations are woven into the very fiber of their communities. As involved citizens, they have a sense of social responsibility that goes beyond marketing and public relations.

They sponsor special programs in response to community needs, support education and career development services in the community, and provide direct support to charitable organizations.

Employees feel a sense of pride that their company is a pillar in the community and the company itself has stature.

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* Investigations, conducted over a three year period by Don Carew, Fred Finch, Fay Kandarian, Eunice Parisi-Carew and Jesse Stoner, included a meta-study of the past twenty years, as well as a comprehensive current study of over a thousand workers in a variety of industries.